Phillips to unveil policy plans at annual conference

Julian Robinson (left), member of parliament for St Andrew South East and general secretary of the People’s National Party (PNP), along with Robert Pickersgill, PNP chairman, addressing the media at the PNP headquarters on Monday.

General Secretary of the People's National Party (PNP), Julian Robinson, said party president, Dr Peter Phillips, will, on Sunday, outline specific policy initiatives on crime and violence and other challenges facing the country, in the areas of health and education, when he makes his maiden address at the party's annual conference.

"We are not just a party of opposing and holding the Government to account. We are going to put on the table some of the things that we believe can move the country forward, as we have done in the area of crime and violence, and we are going to be doing it in other areas," Robinson told journalists at a press briefing to highlight activities for the party's 79th annual confer-ence. It is to be held over four days, beginning tomorrow at the National Arena in Kingston.

On the opening day, Mia Mottley, leader of the Barbados Labour Party, will make a presentation at a session beginning at 6 p.m., which is open to the public.

Delegates of the party will have their private sessions on Friday and Saturday when deliberations will be held on several recommendations to amend the party's constitution.

"One of the issues that we have grappled with as a party is the issue of groups and how we manage the number of groups within the party. There are some proposals about capping the number of groups per constituency and what a constituency would need to do to trigger an increase in the number of groups that they can have," Robinson said.

He said that the delegates would also discuss various policy issues, such as crime and violence, unattached youth, and the three commissions established by the party's leadership. The commissions focus on land, youth, innovation and the digital economy, as well as education.